Helpful Score: 1
Book Description
Nick and Nora Charles are Hammett's most enchanting creations, a rich, glamorous couple who solve homicides in between wisecracks and martinis. At once knowing and unabashedly romantic, The Thin Man is a murder mystery that doubles as a sophisticated comedy of manners.
My Review
This was a very good mystery by Dashiell Hammett. I liked the characters and the plot was very good. It was a page-turner to the very end and the killer was a complete surprise. Although The Thin Man was very good, I think I like The Maltese Falcon better. That being said, I definitely will be reading more of Hammett's mysteries as I like his style of writing very much.
Nick and Nora Charles are Hammett's most enchanting creations, a rich, glamorous couple who solve homicides in between wisecracks and martinis. At once knowing and unabashedly romantic, The Thin Man is a murder mystery that doubles as a sophisticated comedy of manners.
My Review
This was a very good mystery by Dashiell Hammett. I liked the characters and the plot was very good. It was a page-turner to the very end and the killer was a complete surprise. Although The Thin Man was very good, I think I like The Maltese Falcon better. That being said, I definitely will be reading more of Hammett's mysteries as I like his style of writing very much.
Novel that introduced Nick and Nora Charles to the world. One of the classics
An enjoyable fairly easy read. I remembered the movies from when I was young. I thought this would be set in San Francisco, but it is in New York.
Lots of 'red herrings' that lead the reader astray, making it fun to keep guessing the outcome.
A peek into the 'idol rich' lifestyle of post war America.
Lots of 'red herrings' that lead the reader astray, making it fun to keep guessing the outcome.
A peek into the 'idol rich' lifestyle of post war America.
Such a fun read! Fast-paced dialogue, convoluted plot (a Hammett trademark), some great screwy characters. The classic movie is a worthy interpretation of this book.
Former detective Nick Charles is visiting a speakeasy with his socialite wife, Nora, when a friend from his past stops by the table. Nick has known Dorothy Wynant since she was a teenager. Now the young woman is asking Nick for his help. Her father, Inventor Clyde Wynant, hasn't been seen in years. Dorothy is trying to locate him. Nick steers her toward Clyde's attorney. The next day Nick learns that Clyde's secretary, Julia Wolfe, has been murdered. Nick and Nora are quickly dragged into the murder investigation.
This was a fun mystery with lots of suspects. Nick and Nora are a hard-drinking, wise-cracking duo that I loved. The audiobook narration by William Dufris was fast-paced and matched the tempo of the story. My rating: 4.5 Stars.
This was a fun mystery with lots of suspects. Nick and Nora are a hard-drinking, wise-cracking duo that I loved. The audiobook narration by William Dufris was fast-paced and matched the tempo of the story. My rating: 4.5 Stars.
I was a little disappointed in this novel. I didn't find myself connecting to any of the characters. I felt like the story was a bit flat. Definitely not what I'd expect from a Dashiell Hammett novel. If this is your first novel of his, I suggest skipping it and reading Red Harvest or the Maltese Falcon because they are of a greater quality.
A classic whodunit. Former ace private detective Nick Charles and his wife, Nora, are in New York City for the holidays when he's asked to look into the murder of a young woman. Though he doesn't want to get involved, he's pulled deeper into the investigation by members of the Wynant family, various suspects and even the police. The book is peopled with quirky characters, any of whom might be the murderer, and filled with delightfully snappy dialog. Somehow, between his breakfast booze at the crack of noon and the wee hours spent drinking bad hooch in speakeasies, Nick cracks the case. The book brought back happy memories of Sunday afternoon black and white movies starring William Powell and Myrna Loy, who were masterfully cast in a series of Thin Man movies. A fast and fun read.
"The first, finest, and most famous adventure of Nick and Nora Charles, involving an unknown number of "perfect" crimes and two lovely girsl fighting over Nick --- and Nora never losing her cool. Dashiell Hammett is the originator of today's most popular mystery fiction, the novel of suspense and detection. Out of his experiences as a Pinkerton Detective, Hammett created the characters of Sam Spade and Nick Charles, on who are based all the tough bullet-chewing private eyes. His plots are new and realistic. They have been continuously imitated by never equalled."
Dashiell Hammett's last novel is a pip. Celebrate the movie by reading the book...
I remember seeing the 1934 movie version of this starring William Powell and Myrna Loy many years ago. I don't really remember much about the movie other than it was a pleasant romp from yesteryear that I enjoyed watching. I'll now need to keep an eye out for the movie so I can see how it compares to the book.
Well, I really enjoyed the novel. Nick and Nora Charles are wealthy socialites who require copious quantities of alcohol to clear the phlegm in the morning. Their lives consist of drinking themselves into oblivion while charming those whom they meet and along the way Nick, who is a former detective, is dragged into a murder investigation. This brings them into contact with the Wynants, a rather grotesque family, and with various policemen and lowlifes. Clyde Wynant is a wealthy, eccentric inventor, once a client of Nick who is also tall and the thin man of the title. (I had always thought that Nick was the Thin Man in the movies). Clyde has disappeared and becomes the main suspect in the murder of his secretary. It becomes obvious that the murder must in some way be connected to Wynant's wealth which is sought after by his ex-wife and others. The story kept me guessing up till the end with many false clues and red herrings.
I have read most of Hammett's other novels...not sure why this one took so long to get to but glad I finally did!
Well, I really enjoyed the novel. Nick and Nora Charles are wealthy socialites who require copious quantities of alcohol to clear the phlegm in the morning. Their lives consist of drinking themselves into oblivion while charming those whom they meet and along the way Nick, who is a former detective, is dragged into a murder investigation. This brings them into contact with the Wynants, a rather grotesque family, and with various policemen and lowlifes. Clyde Wynant is a wealthy, eccentric inventor, once a client of Nick who is also tall and the thin man of the title. (I had always thought that Nick was the Thin Man in the movies). Clyde has disappeared and becomes the main suspect in the murder of his secretary. It becomes obvious that the murder must in some way be connected to Wynant's wealth which is sought after by his ex-wife and others. The story kept me guessing up till the end with many false clues and red herrings.
I have read most of Hammett's other novels...not sure why this one took so long to get to but glad I finally did!
Nick and Nora: one of my favorite couples. I remember watching this old B&W a long time ago. I was ready to change the channel but Nick spewed one of many witty and dry lines, and I was hooked. I very much hoped that the book would capture that same playful and loving chemistry b/w him and his better half, Nora. It did not disappoint. That aside, the playing out of this who-done-it was carefully crafted and kept me engaged at every turn. What a hoot it would be to eavesdrop on Sherlock Holmes and Nick discussing a case over drinks in a speakeasy.
From the back cover, "Nice and Nora Charles...are a rich, glamorous couple who solve homicides in between wisecracks and martinis. At once knowing and unabashedly romantic, The Thin Man is a murder mystery that doubles as a sophisticated comedy of manners." Written in 1933.
"Nick and Nora Charles are Dashiel Hammett's most enchanting creations, a rich, glamorous couple who solve homicides in between wisecracks and martinis. The Thin Man is a murder mystery that doubles as a sophisticated comedy of manners."
